Fluorocarbon tertiary amines



Patented Nov. 4, 1952 Edward A.'Kauck, St. Paul, Minn, and Joseph H. Simons, State College, Pa., assignors to Mimie- Y sota Mining & Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application'May 12,1950, r 4

Serial N0. 161,717 v Claims.

This application is a continuation in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 29,955, filed on May 28, 1948 (now abandoned).

This invention relates to our discovery of a new and useful class of fluorinated carbon compounds, namely, the saturated fluorocarbon tertiary amines. In these novel compounds the molecules "contain only carbon, fluorine and ni trogen atoms-and'each nitrogen atom is directly bonded to three carbon atoms.

These compounds constitute the family of fully fiuorinated analogues of the family of saturated hydrocarbon tertiary amines, .the carbon-nitrogen skeletal structures being the same but all hydrogen atoms being replaced by fluorine atoms. These compounds are termed fluorocarbon amines merely as a matter of expediency in order to conform with'co'mmonly used nomenclature practice. The tertiary aminesof conven- They are members of a disparate class of tertiary amine compounds which is sui generis.

The present family of compounds embraces cyclic as well as non-cyclic compounds, and polyamines as well as monoamines, all of which have their structural analogues in the hydrocarbon system of tertiary amines. It is our discovery that the electrochemical process which we employ is a general process capable of producing the fully fluorinated analogues of all of the saturated hydrocarbon tertiary amines, as distinguished from special processes capable of preparing particular species or types of compounds only. I

We have found that the compounds of the present class can be directly made from the corresponding hydrocarbon amine compounds as starting materials by employing the novel electrochemical process broadly described and claimed in the copending application of one of us, J. H. Simons, Ser. No. 62,496, filed November No. 2,519,983, issued on August 22, 1950. This process involves electrolyzing a solution of liquid hydrogen fluoride containing the organic starting material, and is described in more detail hereafter.

Those compounds which contain five or more carbon atoms in the molecule have boiling points above room temperature and hence are normally non-gaseous. Compounds containing eight or more carbon atoms have boiling points near to or above that of water and may be referred to as high-boiling compounds.

These fluorocarbontertiary amine compounds are water-insoluble; they have a high degree of chemical inertness; they ar 'non flammable; and they can be heated to moderately elevated temperatures in Pyrex laboratory type glassware without reacting or decomposing. They do not react with metallicsodium or potassium at room temperatures. Making comparisons with nonfluorine compounds o'nthe basis of molecular weights, these new compounds-have exceptionally low boiling points, low refractive indices, low viscosities and low 'surfacetensions. They are colorless and are apparently odorless when in pure form. g I

These compounds have properties which permit of use for many or the urposes for which saturated fiuorocarbons can be used; They can be employed as refrigerants, inert diluents for chemical reactions, solvents; hydraulic mechanismiiuids, heat transfer media, turbine impellants, transformer liquids, dielectrics, and lubricants. They can also be used as intermediatesin the manufacture of otherconipounds.

Various illustrative sub-classes of four novel compounds will now be indicated and exemplary compounds will be mentioned, following which a number of experimental examples will be set forth to illustrate the general utility of the process and to provide detailed data on various of Ram s Where the Rs represent saturated aliphatic fluorocarbon groups which may be the sa'me or different, having the generic-formula: "---C'nFzn+'1. A fluorocarbon group which contains threeor m re carbon atoms may bepresent either. as a normal (straight chain) group or as an isomeric group having a branched structure.

The simplest illustration of these compounds is provided by tri-trifluoromethyl amine, having the structural formula:

C Fa

CFr-N Compounds: B. P. C.) (CFs) 3N 11 (CzFs) 3N 70 (CsFq) 3N 130 (C4F9) 3N 1'78 (C5F11) 3N 218 (C6F13)3N 258 (C7F15) 3N 294 (CaFrz) 3N 321 It will be noted that these boiling points are substantially lower than those of the corresponding compounds of the hydrocarbon trialkyl amine series (despite the fact that the molecular weights are much higher). Thus the B. P. of (C2F5)3N is 70 C. as compared with 89 C. for (C2H5) 3N. The B. P. of (CsF13)3N is 258 C. as compared with 300 C. for (CsH13)3N.

The boiling points of these compounds are higher than those of the saturated aliphatic fluorocarbons having the same number of carbon atoms, as is illustrated by the fact that the B. P. of normal CsF14 is about 55 C. as compared to 70 C. for (C2Fs)3N.

Unsymmetrical as well as symmetrical compounds are included. The lack of symmetry may arise from difierent numbers of carbon atoms in the fluorocarbon groups, as in the case of (CF3)2N(C5F11) Another type of non-symmetry exists when the groups differ as to branching, as when one group is branched and the others are normal straight chains. Both types of nonsymmetry may be present, as in the case of (CFs) 2N(iso-C5F11) Unlike the trialkyl amines, even the lowest trifluorocarbon amines are not only water-insoluble but do not react with, and are not soluble in, the mineral acids. They are not miscible with the trialkyl amines. They separate out when mixed with liquid hydrogen fluoride, although the trialkyl amines are highly soluble in the latter.

Tests made both at room temperature and at the temperature of boiling water (100 C.) indicate that these compounds do not react with any of the following: concentrated HCl, concentrated H2804, concentrated NaQH, 30% H202, HNOz, and methy1 iodide.

The invention is.not limited to the aliphatic series of compounds. The nitrogen-bonded saturated carbon-chain groups need not be of the open-chain type; since one, two or all three may be alicyclic, containing a-saturated fluorocarbon ring (closed chain). Examples of such compounds are (CsF11CF2)3N, corresponding to tri cyclohexylmethylamine; (CsF11CF2CF2)3N, corresponding to tricyclohexylethylamine;

(CFs) zNCsFn corresponding to dimethylcyclohexylamine;

(CsFii) zNCFs corresponding to dicyclohexylmethylamine; and (CeFi1)3N, corresponding to tricyclohexylamine. In these cyclohexyl compounds the molecules contain only acyclic nitrogen atoms, that is, the rings are carbocyclic and the nitrogen atoms are not present in the rings. The nitrogen atom can be in a ring (which may be regarded as formed by the closure of two nitrogen-bonded fluorocarbon chains), as illustrated by the heterocyclic fluorinated N-alkylpiperidines, such as CsFioNCFQ, corresponding to N-methylpiperidine, and

correspondin to N-ethylpiperidine, etc, wherein CsFioN is a fluoropiperidine group. A further illustration is C5F10NC6F11, corresponding to N- cyclohexylpiperidine. The previously mentioned electro-chemical process is adapted to the production of such cyclic compounds from the corresponding hydrocarbon amine compounds, the hydrogen atoms being replaced by fluorine atoms.

The invention embraces tertiary polyamine compounds, which contain more than one tertiary nitrogen atom. These can be made by the aforesaid electrochemical process. An example is the diamine compound:

corresponding to N,N,N',N'-tetramethy1trimethylenediamine.

A further example is:

corresponding to N,N,N,N'-tetraethylethylenediamine. These diamine compounds have the generic formula:

RIR'IIN R NRIIIR!!!) where the primed Rs represent saturated terminal fluorocarbon groups and R represents a nitrogen-linking saturated fluorocarbon group.

An example of a triamine compound is:

(CFa)zN-OF NCF N(CF3) A further example is:

wherein CeFo is a fiuorocyclohexyl ring.

In respect to the various types of saturated fluorocarbon tertiary amine compounds claimed herein, an important category consists of compounds wherein two or all of the three nitrogenbonded carbon atoms are constitutents of CF'2 groups. Each of these groups is also bonded either to a fluorine atom or to a carbon atom of a saturated fluorocarbon group. In the latter case the nitrogen-bonded initial carbon atom of the group is necessarily a primary carbon atom (only one other carbon atom being directly bonded to it). Previously mentioned examples include (CF3)3N, normal (O4F9)3N, and (CF's zNCsFu.

The electrochemical process produces as byproducts various fragmentation products containing fewer carbon atoms than the parent compound, due to cleavage of carbon-nitrogen and even arbon-carbon bonds in the case of "as high as forty or more.

some molecules. "Thus some *will be recovered from (CHs'iaN, and some CFl and -G2Fs :from

(@CaHsMN.

Another type of by-product consists of fluorocarbon tertiary amine compounds which contain a greater number of carbon atoms and which have higher boiling points than :the fluorocarbon tertiary amine which cor-responds to the starting compound. These are presumably formed by the combining of free radicals in the electrolyte solution. These high-boilers range *from :freeflowing liquids up through viscous oily liquids, greases, tacky solids, andbrittle resinous solids.

Still another type of by -product consists 'cof amine compounds wherein less than all 'of'the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine atoms. These have higherboiling points than the corresponding fully fluorinated amines having the same number of carbon atoms. Included in this category are high-boilers containing a greater number of carbon atoms than the starting compound, which evidently are {formed by the combining of free-radicals in the electrolyte solution. These hydrogen-containing high-boilers range from free flowing liquids up to brittle solids and contain, generally, a fraction of onepercent of combined hydrogen.

The complex mixture of fluorocarbon tertiary amines (which are fully 'fiuorinated) and the above-mentioned hydrogen-containing amines (which are partially fluorinated), as obtained from the electrochemical cell, can be fractionally distilled to obtain cuts or differing consistencies and boiling ranges, ranging from free-flowing liquids to brittle solids. For instance, the highboilers from the treatment of triethylamine,

(C2F5)3N, yield fractions having boiling points as high as 150 C. and higher; The high-boilers from the treatment of tribu'tylamine, (UsFn)sN, yield fractions which have the .consistency at room temperature of oils, greases, and brittle solids, with vacuum boiling points at 4 mm. pressure ranging as high as 285 C. and with the number of carbon atoms per molecule ranging These high-boiler cuts are very soluble in liquidfluorocarbons and. in liquid fluorocarbon amines.

The lower-boiling compounds of the two types (fully fluorinated and incompletely fluorinated) can be separated from each other by fractional distillation. can be further purified by refluxing with NaOI-I solution for a period of several hours to eliminate any remaining hydrogen-containing contaminants. Purification can also be effected by selective adsorption of the hydrogen-containing compounds, using silica gel, activated alumina, or activated carbon. The hydrogen-containing fluoroamines can also be efiectively removed ,from the high-boiler mixtures by selective adsorption so as to obtain high-boiler compositions consisting of substantially pure fluorocarbon tertiary amines. In this way fluorocarbon tertiary amine fractions can be obtained which contain as many as forty or more carbon atoms in the molecule and-which are brittle solids at room temperature.

Although these hydrogen-containing fluoroamines have a relatively good degree of thermal stability and chemical inertness, theylaok thev stability and inertness characteristic of the fully fluorinated compounds. In particular, they undergo dehydrofluorination at elevated temperatures, giving off HF; they decompose when refluxed with boiling sodium hydroxide solu- The fully fluorinated compounds tions; and ":the' hydrogen atoms iofier points of attack for chemical reactions; some or all of the'hydrogen atoms thereof can be replaced by chlorine or "bromine atoms lby the thermal chlorination and 'bromi-nation process which, as applied to fluorocarbon hydrides, was described by J. H. Simon-s, :et' al., in the Jourhall of the American Chemical Society, vol. 68, pp. 968-969 (June, 1946). The procedure con- "sists in passing a gaseous mixture of the starting compound, and chlorine or bromine, through a tube which is heated to 'a high temperature by afurnace, .and separating the .chlorinated or bromina'ted reaction product from the resultant reaction mixture, as by fractional distillation.

Despite the formation of by-products, the electr o-chemicals process is capable of providing good yields .of the fully fluorinated tertiary amine corresponding to the-hydrocarbon amine starting compound.

ELECTROCHEMICAL METHOD OF .MAKING previously stated, the compounds of this invention be conveniently made by electrolyzing solutions of the corresponding hydrocarbon amine compounds in liquid hydrogen fluoride, the end result of which is to replace hydrogen atoms fluorine atoms. The formation of by-productsh-asbeen discussed above. It is not essential to use a hydrocarbon amine (containin only hydrogen atoms to be replaced by fluorine atoms) as equivalent tertiary amines can be employed which contain one or more other carbon-bonded atoms or groups which are replaceable by fluorine atoms in the operation of the process. Thus an amine having one or more carbon-bonded hydroxyl groups (--:OH) can be used, as illustrated by triethanol-amine, in which case the hydroxyl groups as well as the carbon-bonded hydrogen atoms will be replaced by fluorine atoms. Unsaturated and aromatic amine starting compounds can be e'mployed, which have the same carbon-nitrogen'skeleton structures as the desired saturated end products, saturation resulting from fluorine addition in the operation of the process.

Thus (CF3)2NC6F11 can be made from dimethylaniline, (CHshNCel-Is. When the starting compound is a mixture of isomeric species (such as a mixture of normal and branched-chain forms of the compound), a corresponding mixture of isomeric species of the fluorocarbon amine product will be obtained.

A simple type of electrolytic .cell can be used, employing a nickel anode and an iron or steel cathode, for example. An iron or steel container can be used, which maybe employed as a cathode, with :a cover of iron or steel which is bolted in place. Anode and cathode plates, in closelys-pacedalternat-ing array, can be suspended from the cover, A suitable gasket material, and insulating material for electrode mountings and leads, is Teflon (po-lytetraflu-oroethylene). An upper outlet for gaseous products, an upper inlet tor charging materials, and a bottom outlet for liquid products, may be provided. The cell 'efliciencyf The amine starting compounds are soluble in this material.

A cell potential of about 4 to 8 volts D. C. has

been found suitable. A current density of about 20 amperes per square foot of anode surface can be obtained. Voltages sufficiently high to result in the formation of free fluorine are avoided. The process does not depend upon the generation of free fluorine and the latter, if produced, would result in explosions, electrode corrosion, and undesirable reactions.

The preferred operating pressure is atmospheric pressure or a moderately elevated pressure, and the preferred operating temperature range is about to 20 C. but higher and lower operating pressures and temperatures can be employed.

When (CF3)3N or other gaseous amine product is being made, it can be withdrawn with and separated from the other gaseous products of the cell. Liquid amine product compounds separate as a constituent of a liquid which is immiscible with the electrolyte and settles to the bottom of the cell from which it can be withdrawn. The latter can be washed with a base and with dilute sulfuric acid, and fractionally distilled to yield the desired fully fluorinated amine product. The desired fully fluorinated amine product can be further purified by refluxing with 25% NaOH solution for a period of several hours. This effectively eliminates any hydrogen-containing byproduct contaminants. Higher product compounds are also formed and can be recovered and purified as previously mentioned.

Example 1 1'75 grams of trimethylamine was dissolved in 1800 grams of commercial anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride and electrolyzed in an iron laboratory cell containing nickel electrodes. The mixture of gaseous products of the cell was led through a low-temperature condenser (40 C.) to condense out most of the HF present in the mixture (which was returned to the cell), then through an aqueous calcium chloride bubbler to remove remaining traces of HF, then through an aqueous potassium-sulfite-iodide bubbler to remove traces of OFz, then through an aqueous potassium hydroxide bubbler to remove traces of CO2, then through a dry potassium hydroxide tower to remove traces of water, and then through a liquid air trap to separate the hydrogen from the therein condensed compounds. The traces of CO2 and OF2 result when there is a trace of water in the electrolyte of the cell. At the end of 19 hours, 400 grams of material had been condensed in the liquid air trap and this was subjected to fractional distillation. In addition to normally gaseous fractions identified as CF4, CF3H and NF3, there was obtained a normally gaseous fraction identified as relatively pure (CF3)3N, tri-triflu-oromethylamine, having th following properties:

Boiling point (at 735 mm.) minus 11 C. Molecular weight (found) 224 Molecular weight (c'alc.) 221 The identification was additionally confirmed by the infra-red absorption spectrum.

Example 2 1'75 grams of triethylamine was dissolved in 1800 grams of commercial anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride and the solution was placed in an iron laboratory cell containing nickel anodes. The applied potential was 5.6 volts D. C., which resulted in a current flow of 20 amperes per square foot of anode surface, operating at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 0 C. At the end of 25 hours an immiscible liquid, weighing 172 grams, was withdrawn from the bottom of the cell. This was washed with base (potassium hydroxide solution) and with sulfuric acid and was fractionally distilled to yield a liquid main fraction which was identified as relatively pure (C2F5)3N, tri-pentafiuoroethylamine.

That this compound was not a fluorocarbon, was made apparent from the differences in physical properties relative to the boiling point value. In fact the only fluorocarbon of comparable boiling point that might be expected to have been formed from the particular amine starting compound is C6F14, having a molecular Weight of 338 and having a boiling point of about 55 C. for the normal form. These values differ from those determined for the found compound by many times the probable experimental error. In addition, analytical determinations were made for fluorine and nitrogen which checked with the calculated values for (C2F5)3N to within a close experimental margin of error, and still further confirmation was provided by the infra-red absorption spectrum.

The measured properties of this (C2F5)3N fraction were as follows:

Boiling point (at 743 mm.) C 68-69 Refractive index (at 25 C.) 1.258 Density (grams/cc. at 35 C.) 1.708 Dielectric constant (at 20 C.) 1.86 Molecular weight (from vapor density) 370 Per cent nitrogen 3.93 Per cent fluorine 76.0

Cut Wei ht B.

N0. (grmgns) (a g N. W. 11,, Density 1 200 71-75 0. 24 347 1. 267 1. 689 2 25 75-82 0. 42 339 1. 272 1. 656 3 40 82-88 0. 418 364 1. 277 1. 080 4 221 88-153 5 545 Residue 0. l6 l. 3ll l. 706

Cuts 2 and 3 were identified as mixtures of partially fluorinated triethylamines containing an average of about one to two atoms of hydrogen per molecule.

In another similar experiment also using triethylamine as the starting compound, fractionation of the liquid product resulted in obtaining a recognized fraction of (C2F5)2CF3N, di-pentafluoroethyl-trifiuoromethylamine, having the following properties:

Boiling point (at 734 mm.) C 45 Refractive index (at 25 C.) 1.253 Molecular weight (found) 320 Molecular weight (calc.) 321 This illustrates that some molecular fragmentation takes place to produce trifiuorocarbon amine end products having fewer carbon atoms than the starting compound.

ravizil Usi tri n-pronylamine as the ta n pound in th l ctro hem al proc ss th e w obtained a liquid fraction which was identified as relatively pure normal remain, tri-n-heritafluoropropylamine; which was found to have the following properties:

Boiling point (at 760 mm.) .'c; 130

Refractive index (at 25 C.) 1.279

Density (grams/cc. at-1259 Ci.) 1.821

Boiling; point (at.75 5.8 mm.) C 177.2. Refractive index (at, 25 C.) 1.290 Density (grams/CC. at. 23 C.). 1.856 Dielectric constant. (at 20 C.) 2.15 Molecular weight L,' j 670 Per cent nitrogen 2.0 Per cent fluorine 74.8

The calculated values for pure (C4F9)3N are: molecular weight 671, per cent nitrogen. 2.09,;

aeiepev and wash washed and fractionated to yield a liquid mai-rffractierr whichfwa s identified as relatively pure. (C FnhN; tri-ju-ndecafluoroamylamine. This fractionwas an isomeric mixture and had the following properties:

Refractive index (at 26 C.) 1.301

Density (grams/0c. at 25,! C'.). 1.923

- which had the following properties:

Boilingpoint. (at 16.0. mm; -3 C'. 25.8.

Refractive index (at. 20 Ci)- 1.305.

Density. (grams/ccat. 27 C.) 1.92.2

' Example 7- per cent fiuorine.'l6.5. Boiling point (at 7.32 m.) c; 111 I In another experiment employing tri-nas Refractive index (at,24, Cl), 1.273 butylamine as the starting. materiaL. the primary ensity (grams/cc. at'24'" 0;.) 1.794 distillation bottoms were fractionated under Molecular W ght. (found) 468 vacuum to give the following cuts: Molecular weight -calc.)" 471 w ht P t A tRo rcen earancea om Q1115 (gr isl U V e PM i I lemperature t o-i, 11.111.), 98 east 2 V 0.07 .30s CIear oily liquid.

89 sees 2 .0a 1.310 Do. 83 came. 2. 0.09.. 1.312,, Do. 2 109428. 2 0. 11 1.315 Lightoil. 11a 1ao-14a- 2* 0.14; 1.319 Medium oil. 109. net-52:1; 2 0,12 .3 1 e vyou. 89 154 -164 2 0.18 1.322 Very heavy oil." I

169 2- 0.19- 1.325 Light grease. 191-220 3.. 0.22 a 1.3291 Grease. 58 220-250 4 11331 Very heavy grease.

6 240.1285. t. 0.23. 1.35 Brown brittlesolld: a 2st 4 l 0,25 I 1.35 Do. r

1Cut 12 was estimated to contain an average 1 .Example 8, of forty carbon atoms per molecule. Cuts 5, 6 102 mm s i s f diso r and 9, were subsequently refluxed with 25% o v p P aqueous sodium hydroxide. for four hours, ('1 CI -I7-)2NC2Hs' washed, and redistilled; and the cuts as thus treated were found to have the per cent H. val.- ues reduced. to. 0.10, 0.10, andv 0.14%, respectively; These high-boiler fractions. contained mixtures. of fully fluorinated and incompletely fluorinated tertiary amines. "As previously mentioned, thev hydrogen-containing compounds can be. removed by selective. adsorption methods,

Exempted a l I grams of"triamy1amine was dissolved in 1800 grams of commercial. anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride and electrolyzed in a similar manner. Thestar-ting compound was a commercial product consisting of a mixture of normal and branched chain isomericspecies of 'triamyl amine, having different, boiling, points.v At t 'e rs; .92 grams; of immiscible liquid was removed from jth e bottom Qf th 111 Refractive index ($128? Q.)

was dissolved 113.00. grams. of; commercial anhydrous liquid hydnogen-iiuoride and electrolyzedJin, the manner previously indicated. After 34 hours; of operation{ 1.8.7, amer a liquidproductI wasremdved'. from the; bottom of the eel-15 and washed .andjdistilled'. t yield aliquid. fraction which. was identifiedfas. relatively pure (i--C3F7)2NC2F5, di-h eptafiuoroi'sopropyl-pentafiuoroethylamine, resulting .from complete fluorination of thestarting compound. This fractionhadithefollowing-properties":

Benineminttat736mm Molecular weight (found) Molecular weight male);

. Exqmp leligp. e

dame-wh r w n a h serene Boiling point (at 760 mm) C Refractive index (at 25 C.) 1.270

Density (grams/cc. at 27 C.) 1.764

Viscosity (centipoises at 20 C.) 106 Example Using diethyl-n-butylamine as the starting compound in the electrochemical process there was obtained a liquid fraction which was identifled asrelatively pure normal (CzFs') 2N(C4F9), di pentafluoroethyl n nonafluorobutylamine, which was found to have the following properties:

Boiling point (at 743 mm.) C 113 Refractive index (at 26 C.) 1.275 Density (grams/cc. at 27 C.) 1.792 Molecular weight (found) 469 Molecular weight (calc.) 471 Example 11 A laboratory cell was charged with 809 grams of anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride and 48 grams of dimethylaniline, (CH3)2NC6H5. The latter was a redistilled sample, B. P. l90-195 C., n 1.558. The applied D, C. potential was maintained in the range of 5.0 to 6.0 volts throughout the run, during which additional dimethylaniline was added to make a total of 71.7 grams. The duration of electrolysis was 186 hours, during which time 17.8 faradays of current had passed. The total cell residue, apart from hydrogen fluoride, weighed 135 grams, from which 73.7 grams of fluorocarbon-like liquid was obtained. This was washed with base and was fractionally distilled to yield a liquid fraction which was identified as relatively pure di-trifluoromethyl-undecafluorocyclohexylamine, having the following properties:

Boiling point C 110-111 Refractive index (at 20 C.) 1.286 Density (grams/cc. at 20 C.) 1.835 Molecular weight (found) 428 Molecular weight (calc.) 433 This compound is the first member of the series having the general formula RR'NCeFn, where R and R represent saturated aliphatic fluorocarbon groups, which may be the same or different, and CsFn is a fluorocyclohexyl ring. Illustrative higher compounds are (CF3) (C2F5)NC6F11, derivable from methylethylaniline; (C2F5)2NC6F11, derivable from diethylaniline; (C3F7)2NC6F11, derivable from dipropylaniline; and

derivable from dibutylaniline. These compounds can also be derived from the corresponding saturated dialkylcyclohexylamine starting compounds as shown in the next example.

Example 12 Using diethylcyclohexylamine as the starting compound in the electrochemical process there was obtained a liquid fraction which was identi- 12 fled as relatively pure (C2F5)2N(C6F11), di-pentafluoroethyl-undecafluorocyclohexylamine, which was found to have the following properties:

Boiling range (at 738 mm.) C -149 Refractive index (at 215 C.) 1.300 Density (grams/cc. at 305 C.) 1.854 Molecular weight (found) 537 Molecular weight (calc.) 533 Example 13 grams of diethylbenzylamine,

(CzHs) zNCHzCsI-Is was dissolved in 2000 grams of commercial anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride and electrolyzed in the manner of the preceding examples. The electrolysis was continued for 93 hours with additions of the amine as needed tomaintain concentration. The liquid product collected from the bottom of the cell was washed and fractionally distilled to yield a fraction which was identi fled as relatively pure (C2F5)'2NCF2C6F11,di-pentafluoroethyl tridecafluorocyclohexylmethylamine, a saturated trifiuorocarbon amine compound having a fluorocyclohexyl ring, resulting from complete fluorine substitution of the hydrogens, and addition to the benzene ring, in the aromatic amine starting compound.

This fraction had the following properties:

Boiling point (at 742 mm.) C 163-165 Refractive index (at 26 C.) 1.304 Density (grams/cc. at 27 C.) 1.892 Molecular weight (found) 568 Molecular weight (calc.) 583 Example 14 40 grams of N,N,N',N'-tetraethylethylenediamine, (C2I-I5) 2N-CH2CH2-N(C2H5) 2, was diS- solved in 2000 grams of commercial anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and electrolyzed in the manner previously described. The run was continued for 69 hours, additional amine being added to maintain the organic concentration at about 2%, resulting in the producing of 264 grams of cell drainings, which were washed with aqueous potassium hydroxide and distilled to yield a liquid main fraction which was identified as relatively ra pentafluoroethyl tetrafiuoroethylenediamine, which was found to have the following properties:

Boiling range (at 736 mm.) C 153-157 Refractive index (at 27 C.) 1.291 Density (grams/cc. at 26 C.) 1.858 Molecular weight (found) 612 Molecular weight (calc.) 604 Example 15 Using N ,N ,N ,N' -n-tetrabutylethylenediamine as the starting compound in the electrochemical process there was obtained a liquid fraction which was identified as relatively pure normal N,N,N',N-tetra-n-nonafluorobutyl tetrafluoroethylenediamine which was found to have the following properties:

Boiling range (at 751 mm.) C 242-248 Refractive index (at 25 C.) 1.308 Density (grams/cc. at 25 C.) 1 1.902

13 Example 16 Using 2,4,6-tri(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol, having the structural formula:

anaemic CH2N(CH3)2 as the starting compound in the electrochemical process there was obtained a liquid fraction which was identified as relatively pure 1,3,5- [(CF3)2NCF2]3C5F9, wherein CsFe is a saturated fluorocyclohexyl ring. This fully fluorinated triamine product compound resulted from saturation of the aromatic ring by fluorine addition and from replacement of the hydroxyl group and all of the hydrogens by fluorine atoms. This compound was found to have a boiling range (at about 740 mm.) of 221-245" C.

Example 17 40 grams of N-methylpiperidin was dissolved in 2000 grams of commercial anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride and electrolyzed in the manner of the preceding examples. During the 50 hour run additional amounts of the organic compound (totalling 110 grams) were added in order to maintain the concentration. The liquid cell drainings (216 grams) were washed with aqueous base and fractionally distilled to yield a 197 gram fraction of relatively pure CF10NCF3, N -trifluoromethyldecafluoropiperidine, having the following properties:

Boiling point (at 730 mm.) C' 65.0-65.5 Refractive index (at 24 C.) 1.275 Density (grams/cc. at 24 C.) 1.760 Molecular weight (found) 336 Molecular weight (calc.) 333 The identification of most of the foregoing fully fluorinated product compounds was further substantiated by the infra-red absorption spectra, which in each case establish the absence of unsaturation and the absence of hydrogen (either as carbon-hydrogen or as nitrogen-hydrogen).

The fluorinated N-alkylpiperidine compounds are claimed in our divisional application Ser. No. 290,316, filed on May 21, 1952.

Having described various embodiments of the invention, for purposes of illustration rather than limitation, what we claim is as follows:

1. As new and useful compositions of matter, saturated fluorocarbon tertiary amines of the class consisting of fully fluorinated alkyl and cyclohexyl tertiary amines wherein the molecules contain only carbon, fluorine and acyclic nitrogen atoms and each nitrogen atom is directly bonded to three carbon atoms of which at least two are constituents of -CFzgroups, there being from one to three acyclic nitrogen atoms and from three to twenty-four carbon atoms per molecule.

2. Compounds according to claim 1 wherein each nitrogen atom is directly bonded to three CF2 groups.

3. Compounds according to claim 1 wherein the compounds are high-boiling fluorocarbon monoamines wherein the molecule contains a single nitrogen atom and at least eight carbon atoms.

4. Saturated aliphatic fluorocarbon tertiary amines, wherein the molecules contain only carbon, fluorine and nitrogen atoms and each nitrogen atom is directly bonded to three carbon atoms of which at least two are constituents of -CFzgroups, there being from one to three nitrogen atoms and from three to twenty-four carbon atoms per molecule.

5. Saturated aliphatic fluorocarbon tertiary monoamines, wherein the molecules contain only carbon, fluorine and nitrogen atoms and the single nitrogen atom of each molecule is directly bonded to three carbon atoms.

6. Saturated aliphatic fluorocarbon tertiary diamines having the formula:

RIRI IN R NRIIIRIII I where the primed R's represent saturated aliphatic terminal fluorocarbon groups and R represents a nitrogen-linking saturated aliphatic fluorocarbon group.

7. Saturated fluorocarbon tertiary monoamines containing an N-bonded cyclohexyl ring, which have the formula:

RR'NCeFu where R and R represent saturated aliphatic fluorocarbon groups.

8. Saturated aliphatic trifluorocarbon monoamines having the formula:

RIRIIRIIN where the R's represent saturated aliphatic fluorocarbon groups.

9. High-boiling saturated aliphatic trifluorocarbon monoamines, wherein the molecules contain only one nitrogen atom and it is directly bonded to three saturated aliphatic fluorocarbon groups each of which contains from one to eight carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms per molecule being from eight to twenty-four.

10. The saturated trifluorocarbon amine compound having the formula (CiFs) 3N.

EDWARD A. KAUCK. JOSEPH H. SIMONS.

No references cited. 

1. AS NEW AND USEFUL COMPOSITION OF MATTER, SATURATED FLUOROCARBON TERTIARY AMINES OF THE CLASS CONSISTING OF FULLY FLUORINATED ALKYL AND CYCLOHEXYL TERTIARY AMINES WHEREIN THE MOLECULES CONTAIN ONLY CARBON, FLUORINE AND ACYCLIC NITROGEN ATOMS AND EACH NITROGEN ATOM IS DIRECTLY BONDED TO THREE CARBON ATOMS OF WHICH AT LEAST TWO ARE CONSTITUENTS OF -CF2- GROUPS, THERE BEING FROM ONE TO THREE ACYCLIC NITROGEN ATOMS AND FROM THREE TO TWENTY-FOUR CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE. 